Well tool



' A, SOWDERS WELL TOOL July 20, 1943.

Filed Feb. 26, 1942 19 70 (30 W0? F5 INVENTOR.

ATI'DRN EYE Patented July 20, 1943 UNITED" STATES PATENT -OFFICEJ 1 ""faszgs'ss c L rom. 1' '1. AndyiS owders, Trospen Ky. H I Application February 26, 1942, Serial'N'o. 432,488

. 4Claini s'. loci. 29 995 This invention relates to well tools, and one of its objects is to provide a fishnig tool that is designed for removing debris, 'piping, rodsand other foreign objects from a drilled well, in an easy and expeditious manner, in'that the tool 6.

includes a plurality of blade like toothedspring jaws arranged for cooperative association, toset up both a biting and gripping engagement with an object, thus reducing to a minimum, casual removal of the object therefrom.

A further object is to provide a well'tool that includes a toothed spearhead which can be substituted for thebladesfin the'event 'it becomes necessary to break up a solid mass of debris, a rock or the like, before such can be removed from the well.

Another object is to provide a well tool, that is simple in construction, and extremely efiicient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference Figure 4 is a similar View with the spearhead I attached to the shank.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3, it will be noted that the shank i which may be of any length, is

formed with an eye 2 at its upper end and mounted in the eye is an elongated ring 3 for connection of a cable, rope or the like thereto. The shank is shown as being round in cross section for the major portion of its length, but is shaped adjacent its lower end to provide diametrically opposed longitudinally extending flat faces 4 that are inclined inwardly from their lower ends. Like faces 5 are also provided below the faces 4 and extend from the lower end of the shank, as best shown in Figure 2. The faces 5 are arranged at right angles relative to the faces 4 and the faces 4 and 5 provide seats having shoulders 5 and 1 respectively at the upper ends thereof, for

the jaws. v I Securedon the upper seats against the shoulders 6 by-bolt and nut connections 8 is one pair 'of jaws 9 and secured on the lower seats-against the shoulders I by bolt and nut connections IE! is the other pair of jaws H, the jaws B being longer than the jaws II, as the lower ends of both pairs terminate in the same plane. The jaws which are in the form of blades are made from spring metal and are bowed outwardly from their connection with the shank, so that when they are in normal or closed position, as shown-in Figure 3, the lower ends thereof substantially contacteach other. Each jaw is formed with a row of inward ly and upwardly extending barbs or teeth [2 along the longitudinal edges thereof, so that the jaws are capable of setting up both a gripping and biting engagement with an object, as will be apparent from Figure 3. 1

In order to hold the jaws in set or open position, I provide triggers l3 and I 4 respectively, one for each pair of jaws, and the triggers which in fact are'short barsof metal, are adapted for disposal between the jaws in bridging relation therewith. The triggers are connected'to the lowermost bolt of the bolt and nut connections 10, by chain [5.

In the use of the tool so far described in detail, it will be obvious that the jaws are arranged in set position by the trigger and the tool is lowered withinthe well casing. When .the triggers contact an object, the latter will trip the triggers and cause the jaws to grip the object, so that it can be withdrawn from the well.

In the event a solid mass of debris or a fixed rock should be encountered, the jaws are removed from the shank, and the spearhead I6 of Figure .4 isattached to the lower seats. The

,- head is tapered to a pointed lower end and has It will be that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A well tool comprising a shank, two pairs of blade like spring gripping jaws, means securing the jaws to the shanks upon diametrically opposite sides thereof for disposal in depending relation therefrom and with the jaws arranged at right angles to each other, said jaws being bowed outwardly from their connection with the shank and having their lower ends normally arranged substantially in contact with each other, trigger means for disposal between the jaws of each pair in bridging relation thereto for holding the same in open position, and flexible means connecting the trigger means to the shank.

2. A well tool comprising a shank, two pairs of blade like spring gripping jaws, means securing the jaws to the shank upon diametrically opposite sides thereof for disposal in depending relation therefrom and with the jaws arranged at right angles to each other, said jaws being bowed outwardly from their connection with the shank and having their lower ends normally arranged substantially in contact with each other, a row of teeth formed on the side edges of each jaw and extending at an upward and inward inclination therefrom, and trigger means including bars for disposal between the jaws of each pair in bridging relation thereto for holding the same in open position, flexible means connected at one of their ends to the shanks, and the bars being connected midway their ends to the opposite ends of the flexible means.

3. A well tool comprising a shank having diametrically opposed flat faces extending from the lower end thereof and diametrically opposed flat faces above the first faces and arranged at right angles thereto, said faces being disposed along the length of the shank and inclined inwardly from their lower ends to provide seats having shoulders at the upper ends thereof, a pair of blade like jaws secured to the upper seats and "wring against the shoulders thereof, a pair of blade like jaws secured to the lower seats and bearing against the shoulders thereof, said jaws extending from the shanks in depending relation therefrom and having their lower ends normally arranged substantially in contact with each other, trigger means for disposal between the jaws for holding the same in open position, and flexible means connecting the trigger means to the shank.

4. A well too], comprising a shank, two pairs of blade-like spring gripping jaws, means securing the jaws to the shank upon diametrically opposite sides thereof for disposal in depending relation therefrom and with the jaws arranged at right angles to each other, trigger means for disposal between the jaws of each pair in bridging relation thereto for holding the same in open position, and flexible means connecting the trigger means to the shank. v

ANDY SOWDERS. 

